Water and Sound Speed
What is the relationship between the depth of the ocean and the speed of sound?
———- from Jingde Chu of Perth, Australia
As ocean depth increases, temperature decreases. The speed of sound decreases to a certain depth, then increases, offsetting the temperature decrease, until equilibrium is established and nothing has changed. In this way, ocean depth is much like political or economic progress. Much changes for a while, but in the long run, everything is the same and you’re in a little deeper. Unfortunately, it’s harder to get back to where you started, where everything’s the same, only different.
As ocean depth increases, temperature decreases. The speed of sound decreases to a certain depth, then increases, offsetting the temperature decrease, until equilibrium is established and nothing has changed. In this way, ocean depth is much like political or economic progress. Much changes for a while, but in the long run, everything is the same and you’re in a little deeper. Unfortunately, it’s harder to get back to where you started, where everything’s the same, only different.